Our Teachers

Lucas Fox is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Music, specialized in (classical) piano performance. At his time at OSU, he participated in Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, and Small Piano Ensemble. Lucas' other interests in music include playing modern/ contemporary music, jazz, percussion, and drum set. He has also performed in the pits of many musical productions in and around the Columbus area.

Travis Long comes from Northwest Ohio where he attended Terra State College for Jazz Studies and Music Performance. Travis has been playing guitar since a young age and quickly developed a fascination with extended range instruments. He has a deep appreciation for a wide variety of music with a particular affinity for metal and jazz. Travis enjoys performing live and has done so as part of a wide variety of musical projects over the past ten years. He regularly performs on bass with Columbus soul rock group Carole Walker and the Bittertones. Travis loves working with students of all ages and helping them explore music that speaks to them personally.

Lauren Nelson is a mezzo from Columbus. She has a BM in vocal performance (emphasis in classical voice) from Loyola University Chicago. While there she sang the Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas. Lauren was active in the local music scene in Chicago, where she played many solo shows and shows with local bands. She has experience recording both solo and with bands like The Kuhls and Monroe. Lauren has been playing with Columbus bands since she was in high school and was also in Hairspray (Motormouth Maybelle) and Oliver (Mrs. Sowerberry). She enjoys teaching all ages and genres including classical, musical theatre, jazz, and pop. She has the skills and patience to mentor students looking to gain knowledge in songwriting and recording.

Regan holds a degree in Vocal Performance from Oakland University and a masters degree in Voice Pedagogy from The Ohio State University. She has been teaching piano and voice lessons for a total of 10 years and loves that her experience has led her to incorporate a variety of learning strategies into her lessons, including games and songwriting in order to build confidence and creativity. She enjoys working with singers of all levels and with piano students that are getting started or at an intermediate point in their musical journey.

Erik is a piano, percussion, and drum set instructor with 12 years teaching experience. His experience includes instruction of students ranging from kindergartners through retirees, beginners through advanced instruction. He suits lessons individually to the student, with an emphasis on developing versatility and life-long enjoyment of music. From the casual learner to the advanced performer, he offers students the tools they need to become confident musicians at any level. He holds a Minor in music. He has been the principal percussionist with the New Albany Symphony since 2010. He has performed with Louis Bellson and Clark Terry; classical artists Janos Starker and Hillary Hahn; and pop performers Mary Chapin Carpenter and Chris Thile.

Christy Campos is a mezzo-soprano who studied voice in San Diego for ten years under Wendy Kallen and the Uselman-Klein Vocal Studio, performed lead roles in numerous musical productions, and was often a solo artist in various concert settings. She has extensive experience directing children’s choirs, large-scale youth musical productions, and taught for Sing, Move, and Play Music Academy and Hope Music School in San Diego. She has been trained and certified through two internationally known early childhood music education programs and believes that everyone is musical! It is her hope that she can help her students discover their unique musical voice and encourage a lifelong love of making music.

Erin graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s of Music Education in 2012. She studied both jazz and classical styles and has extensive experience with jazz improvisation. In 2022, Erin completed her coursework for certification in Music Therapy at Cleveland State University and has worked with clients from preschool to adults of all ability levels. Erin has been writing, performing, and recording music for over 20 years, in a variety of genres including rock, folk, electronica, jazz, and classical. She enjoys listening to artists ranging from Taylor Swift to John Coltrane.

From a young age Isaac has been very musically inclined. Starting piano lessons at age 6 and drum lessons one year later, Isaac quickly discovered that he has a passion for music. To further this he spent years practicing drums piano and guitar, and enrolled in the Jazz program at The Ohio State University. Since then Isaac has been regularly gigging around Ohio, playing both drums and guitar with many different groups. He hopes to pass his knowledge and experience on to the next generation, and help them discover the same passion for music that he has.

Alexa Rybinski has a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance with emphasis in Opera/Musical Theater and a minor in Viola Performance from Capital University Conservatory of Music. She has performed with most of the Columbus professional and regional theaters. Favorite roles include: First Date (Casey), The Wild Party (Kate), Spring Awakening (Wendla), Shrek (Fiona), Little Women (Jo), Cabaret (Sally Bowles), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Cinderella), Seussical (Gertrude), Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife), Hairspray (Penny), and Nunsense (Sister Amnesia). Alexa also works as a costumer around Columbus and has played in the pit for many musicals. Alexa has taught all levels of voice, violin, and viola private students for over 10 yea...

Bonnie Wu got her first violin when she was only three years old and is well versed in the Suzuki method. Along with violin, she also studied piano and later picked up the ukulele. Bonnie now plays violin for Ohio State’s Orchestras and Collegium Musicum of Ohio while studying for a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and Chinese, with hopes of going to medical school. For many years, she has volunteered at her local library where she enjoyed working with kids and seeing them in an environment where they wanted to learn. Aside from music, she enjoys oil painting, shopping, and playing video games on her Nintendo Switch. She wishes that everyone could experience the exhilarating feeling of being able to play and enjoy music with others.

Emily has been teaching private lessons since graduating from Capital University in 2013 and is deeply passionate about music in all its forms! After college, she sang with Opera Columbus and various professional choral ensembles, some of which took her on international tours. She moved to Los Angeles CA in 2016 where, in addition to teaching private lessons, she was vocal instructor for the theatre department at Santa Monica High School and general music teacher at Playa Vista Elementary. She was also soprano section leader for the Bay Area-based choral ensemble Choral Audacity, sang with the Los Angeles Vocal Ensemble, and Voices for Social Justice. Outside of the music world, Emily enjoys outdoor activities, cooking, and kickboxing.

My name is Nicholas Rice and my passion is teaching music and inspiring positivity to my students. I am a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Otterbein University who will be highly dedicated to you or your child in their musical journey. My specialty is voice but I also teach beginning piano and play saxophone. I am eager to find new students and have more fantastic musical memories!

Nico Linik has been performing in Columbus for years. Outside of his main projects Cellar Dwellar and Dairy Family, he seeks to play in as many styles, genres, and groups as he can. He has an intense passion for all things music, and he understands how important community and encouragement to learn are to someone's growth as a musician. Nico has played a part in putting together virtual festivals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, hosting open jams that bring musicians together, and running a revered house venue and artist collective. He is always trying to improve and hopes to push himself and his students to be the best musicians they can be.

Rita has been a teacher at heart since childhood. She loves finding patterns and similarities in Western Music and other cultures’ musical forms. She has taught music for over 20 years. Inspired by Daris McCoun, her first piano/organ teacher, she learned theory and improvisation through gospel and classical styles. Rita has taught in the area and in Japan. She welcomes students of many cultures, and wants to learn from them! Rita brings skills in ear-training (Suzuki) and note-reading through several methods, including online resources. She believes every student can find their best way to learn, and tries to match her approach to the needs of any student, any age.

Teagan Amey is a vocalist originally from Cleveland Ohio. She graduated from Otterbein University with a BA in Music for Voice and a BA in Studio Art. She went on to get her masters degree in vocal performance at Kent State University. Presently, she is Co-director of Otterbein Opera Theater and teaches applied voice lessons for the university in Westerville, Ohio. With an emphasis on healthy singing, she hopes to expand her students voices beyond what they thought possible.

Patrick is a seasoned musician from Columbus, Ohio, with 17 years of experience in various music styles. He holds a degree in Jazz Studies/Guitar Performance from Capital University and has studied with renowned musicians like Stan Smith, Zakk Jones, and Tom Davis. His musical influences range widely, from Frank Zappa and King Crimson to Miles Davis or Joni Mitchell. Patrick has played in diverse ensembles and bands, including big bands, jazz combos, and his own bands such as Crabswithoutlegs, Silvia Mori, and Intercurrents. Patrick has won many awards for his performances and compositions. He values musical connections with students and colleagues, and has a strong passion for Jazz, Funk, Progressive Rock, and Metal music.

Avery has 15 years of piano experience primarily in classical music, as well as big band and trio jazz ensembles. Avery studied piano performance for a year at university before transitioning to the pre-med track and obtaining a Neuroscience degree from OSU. Avery has recently jumped back into the world of music and is currently a pianist for the Columbus BalletMet.

Ben Guegold is a skilled trumpet performer and dedicated educator with a Master’s in Trumpet Performance from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Music from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. He has a strong teaching background, having taught undergraduate trumpet students, led studio classes, and prepared students for various competitions and auditions. Ben's performance experience includes playing in theater productions with the Short North Stage and Columbus Children’s Theater, as well as with orchestras like the Worthington Chamber Orchestra and Lima Symphony Orchestra.

McKinnon is a musician from Columbus who started playing guitar at age 12. He teaches guitar, bass, and drums and has been instructing since 2022. With a background in childcare, McKinnon brings a patient and supportive approach to teaching. He works with students of all ages and focuses on finding the best way each person learns. Outside of teaching, McKinnon plays in a local band called Beaumont, and incorporates real-world experience into his lessons. His goal is to create a relaxed environment where students feel comfortable learning.

Abigail Cooper is a Trinidadian-born violinist and educator who began playing violin at age ten. She studied at Excelsior Music College and earned her bachelor’s degree in violin performance from the University of Trinidad and Tobago. While in school, she discovered a passion for teaching, offering private lessons and working with students across western Trinidad. Abigail later joined the National Philharmonic Orchestra and worked as a freelance performer and educator. Committed to lifelong learning, she moved to the U.S. to pursue a master’s degree in violin performance and pedagogy at Ohio University. She remains devoted to sharing the joy and power of music, inspiring growth in both herself and her students.

Nicole Savastuk is a passionate and experienced music educator specializing in piano and voice. With a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and several years of teaching experience in both public schools and private settings, she brings a blend of structured technique and joyful creativity to every lesson. Nicole is trained as a classical pianist, with a special love for expressive repertoire like Clair de Lune and Chopin’s Ballade No. 1. As a former high school choir director, she’s well-versed in guiding students of all ages and experience levels, always aiming to build confidence, musicality, and personal connection to the music.

I have 15 years of experience in childcare and am skilled in vocals, flute, recorder, and some guitar and ukulele. I am a singer/songwriter in a folk duo with my husband. Music makes me feel like myself and I love sharing the joy of music with children and adults!

A pianist from Dayton with a Bachelor of Arts in music performance from Ohio State University, I have been teaching private lessons intermittently for a few years. I perform with various groups in Central Ohio, most notably Crabswithoutlegs. I have experience in a wide range of musical styles, although jazz has been the main focus of my study, and I am passionate about discussing and teaching a variety of genres.